https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal.atomKindred Post - Journal2019-03-15T12:00:00-08:00Kindred Posthttps://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/kindred-artist-of-the-week-arianna-johnny-wadsworth2019-03-15T12:00:00-08:002019-03-15T12:00:00-08:00Kindred Artist of the Week: Arianna Johnny-WadsworthVeronica Buness“By helping the elders relieve their pain, they are able to share teachings & wisdom with the youth.”

Presenting our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist isArianna Johnny-Wadsworth, owner and creator behind Quw’utsun’ Made. Her goal is to preserve the traditional knowledge of the Coast Salish Nation, in order to pass it on to the next generations.

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“By helping the elders relieve their pain, they are able to share teachings & wisdom with the youth.”

Presenting our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is Arianna Johnny-Wadsworth, owner and creator behind Quw’utsun’ Made. Her goal is to preserve the traditional knowledge of the Coast Salish Nation, in order to pass it on to the next generations.

I wild-craft harvest Devil’s Club once a year in order to make my popular Devil’s Club Salve as well as using it in workshops. This plant has been sacred to my tribe, the Cowichan, since time immemorial. Through teaching plant medicine, I have been able to share Native culture in an approachable and safe way for both my community & settler guests.

Who/what inspires you?

The inspiration for Quw'utsun' Made comes from the Coast Salish peoples & the elders of Turtle Island. I have been inspired to create healing salves & infusions to help elders with their arthritis & diabetes. By helping the elders relieve their pain, they are able to share teachings & wisdom with the youth, something that is very sacred and endangered by colonialism. I am also inspired by my peers- the Beaders, the Weavers, the Carvers, and knowledge keepers from Native communities all over Turtle Island. They have given me so many ideas & suggestions that have come to form what Quw'utsun' Made is now.

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

My favourite moment in the process is definitely watching my customers receive their products and allowing them to become apart of their everyday routine. I feel honored by how many of my customers are connected to the plants that I find so valuable.

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

Quw'utsun' Made has found success in the business world by remaining as authentic as possible. I feel it is important to share my wins & losses so that people can identify with my brand & me as a person (through social media). By sharing these experiences, my customers can see that I am human, make mistakes, go through trials, and also feel confident enough to share my come-ups with my community.

What’s next?

I am currently working on building my presence in the Southwestern territory in New Mexico and Arizona. I was recently awarded a residency with a grant & mentorship through New Mexico Community Capital’s NEIR program. I have been working with my mentor to reach a new market & to expand my product line. I am also working with Born In The North - a Migmaw streetwear brand, to create a merch line including various NW plant designs

Thank you for your interest in working at Kindred Post! We’re a creative, quirky workplace rooted in art, community, and social justice. And we care very much about the people who work with us! If you love people and mail and neighborhood vibes; if you’ve got a keen attention to detail and enjoy the satisfaction of efficiency; if you laugh at puns and like tiny post office concerts and adding your creative mark on this big bad beautiful world, then we can’t wait to meet you.

We have two open positions: a Media & Retail Associate (part-time or full-time, permanent) and a Seasonal Retail Associate (part-time, May-Sept). Please see below for more details about either position.

TO APPLY:

Please send ONE HAIKU, a RESUME, and a LETTER that tells us about yourself and why you'd be a good fit for Kindred Post. Send questions and applications to hello@kindredpost.com.Application deadline: March 31st

OPEN POSITIONS:

Media & Retail Associate The Media & Retail Associate is a part-time or full-time, permanent position that assists in the general operations of Kindred Post, and plays an integral and creative role in the company's media presence. The ideal candidate will be adept in a variety of social media platforms, is comfortable photographing people and products, writing creatively, and will have an eye for good design. This position also carries out basic duties in retail transactions, product management, and sales. Candidate must possess ability to provide excellent customer service, manage multiple tasks, think creatively, pay attention to detail, and have fun! Full position description here.

Seasonal Retail Associate This part-time, seasonal Retail Associate position assists in the general operations of Kindred Post. It is approximately 20 hours a week, and the ideal candidate will have availability from May-September. If you are only available for some of this window, please indicate so on your application. This position carries out basic duties in retail transactions, product management, sales, and event staffing. Candidate must possess ability to provide excellent customer service, pay attention to detail, work effectively and efficiently in a busy atmosphere, and have fun! Full position description here.

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/kindred-artist-of-the-week-magayr-knox2019-03-08T12:00:00-09:002019-03-08T12:00:00-09:00Kindred Artist of the Week: Magayr KnoxVeronica Buness“The persistent call of creative expression has led me to a place where I feel like I can harness all of this into something wildly fulfilling.”

Presenting our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is Magayr Knox, rad mama and the creative force behind Akimbo Collection. Magayr’s work joined the shop last summer and quickly became a local favorite!

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“The persistent call of creative expression has led me to a place where I feel like I can harness all of this into something wildly fulfilling.”

Presenting our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is Magayr Knox, rad mama and the creative force behind Akimbo Collection. Magayr’s work joined the shop last summer and quickly became a local favorite!

To stand akimbo means to plant hands on hips and jut elbows outward; a stance exuding confidence and strength.

Who are you?

Magayr (pronounced “mug-air”) Knox, hammer-wielding maker behind Akimbo jewelry. I was raised in Chugiak, where my husband and I are bringing up our three daughters to take on life with the spirit of the akimbo stance.

What do you do?

With an anvil of old Alaskan railroad track and my dad’s first hammer, I form mostly brass and copper into unique, simple jewelry. Sometimes I’ll wire a stone in there, too.

Who/what inspires you?

Oh, man, so much. I am inspired by a growing local community of makers, motivated by my three inventive daughters and incredibly supportive family, and forever in awe of the raw beauty of Alaska. The persistent call of creative expression has led me to a place where I feel like I can harness all of this into something wildly fulfilling.

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

There is magic in all of it. From scribbling out an idea and hammering it into reality, to seeing my work displayed on varied, gorgeous human canvases out in the world - I am just grateful for it all. Especially, though, for those moments when I realize that a thing I made connects me to people. Through the exceptional shops I work with, customers at pop-up shows, social media interactions, and getting to know other makers, I revel in the relationships that have come from swinging a hammer and putting myself out there.

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

Don’t be afraid to let your style unfold as you learn to recognize your own creative voice. Also, just don’t be afraid. Try new stuff. And invest in a good pair of headphones.

What’s next?

I’ve got some new tools in the workshop to break in and I hope to unleash some fresh ideas as inspiration strikes. I also plan to incorporate our converted school bus, Atlas, into some summer cross-state business ventures (and life adventures!) - because everything is more fun on the bus!

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/kindred-artists-of-the-week-lily-hope-and-ricky-tagaban2019-03-01T12:00:00-09:002019-03-01T12:00:00-09:00Kindred Artists of the Week: Lily Hope and Ricky TagabanVeronica Buness“I love that the things I make will have their own life once they go out into the world.”

Presenting ourKindred Artist of the Weekseries! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artists are a powerful pair of skilled weavers, Lily Hope and Ricky Tagaban, who will be block printing Chilkat designs at our First Friday party!

I’m inspired by mothers who understand the urgency to create art in our few free hours, and I’m inspired by artists who go full-bore into their work. Like Amy Meissner, Alaskan textile artist, and Rothko, Pollock, and Bearden. I’m also inspired by my textile teachers who maintained the integrity of technical and spiritual skills in Chilkat weaving, like Kay Parker and my late mother, Clarissa Rizal. That’s the whole thing. How do I dive fiercely into the art and maintain the integrity of 400-year old techniques, while simultaneously balancing creative hours and parenting. Letting them all feed the art making.

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

My favorite moment in the process is two-fold: the initial mind creation of a new work, helping it simply gestate, and then the final outcome of that art-being now existing in the world. People say I’m a natural born mother. Maybe. I birth and raise children, and I birth large artistic projects. All who will eventually thrive without me. This is the heart work, and the greatest lesson in allowing.

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

For any artists working in indigenous textiles or performance art, or ANY medium, I’d say identify and follow your strengths. Find the few things that spark joy in you, that fill your love tank, and practice those. Practice those daily. The universe will support you.

What’s next?

What’s next!? A top secret project being released in June. And spearheading a collaborative Giving Strength Robe for the AWARE shelter here in Juneau, assembling the works of over 60 contributing weavers. And a second Chilkat robe to be completed by September this year. You know, like any artist, I’m cramming the good work into a life already rich in love and family.

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/kindred-artist-of-the-week-shannon-broder2019-02-22T12:00:00-09:002019-02-22T12:00:00-09:00Kindred Artist of the Week: Shannon BroderVeronica Buness“It doesn't matter what is going on in my life at the time, when I'm in the studio a calm falls over me and I just get absorbed in the rhythm on the process.”

Introducing our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist isShannon Broder, a NYC-based printmaker and teacher. We love her pet pillows and other funky fiber creations!

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“It doesn't matter what is going on in my life at the time, when I'm in the studio a calm falls over me and I just get absorbed in the rhythm on the process.”

Introducing our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is Shannon Broder, a NYC-based printmaker and teacher. We love her pet pillows and other funky fiber creations!

Who are you?

Hi! I’m Shannon Broder and I am the creator of Broderpress.

What do you do?

I am a printmaker by trade. I started printing in college and completely fell in love with it. I was always disillusioned by this idea of a two dimensional print so I started playing around with fabric and seeing how I could transform my prints into objects or things that people could interact with. I started Broderpress back in 2009 as a hobby and it has slowly grown into my main gig. I also work as a college professor. I teach printmaking at two different colleges in New York City and I love sharing my passion for the process with others. One of my favorite classes to teach is a small business class where I help undergrads pursue their creative careers.

Who/what inspires you?

I'm constantly inspired by other artists and makers it's so hard to pick just one, my top three right now would be Lisa Congdon, Sarah Golden, and Kristen Drozdowski. (KP: Kristen is the designer behind Worthwhile Paper, which you can shop here!)

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

My favorite moment in the process has to be silkscreen, it is such an magical process. There is something about it that just makes sense to me, if you follow all the steps in the process you will ultimately get this result. It's kind of like baking. Printmaking has always been there for me, and it's gotten me through so many hardships. It doesn't matter what is going on in my life at the time, when I'm in the studio a calm falls over me and I just get absorbed in the rhythm on the process.

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

Do something that you love. Running a small business is SUCH hard work. There are so many long hours, late nights and working on weekends. But if you are doing something that you love and something that you believe in it makes all the hard work worth it.

What’s next?

A lot has happened this past year, I quit my full time job and signed the lease on the first official Broderpress studio. I'm really looking forward to finding my rhythm so I can dive back into making new work. I've started playing around with a laser cutter so I can start printing on new materials in addition to fabric and really expand my product line.

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/kindred-post-workshops-beginner-macrame-with-jessica-hoffman2019-02-18T16:00:00-09:002019-02-18T16:04:12-09:00Kindred Post Workshops: Beginner Macrame with Jessica HoffmanVeronica Buness
We had a lovely time creating our very own macrame wall hangings with Jessica Hoffman! Check out some photos from the class.

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We had a lovely time creating our very own macrame wall hangings with Jessica Hoffman!

Jessica showed us a few basic knots, which all attendees used in different ways to create totally unique pieces.

Jessica also showed us how to weave in wool roving to add a bit of colorful character to each wall hanging.

Thanks to everyone who came out to learn with us, and thanks to Jessica for sharing her knowledge!

Want to know when we host another workshop? Sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of our site!

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/artist-of-the-week-deb-gregoire2019-02-15T12:00:00-09:002019-02-18T16:03:06-09:00Kindred Artist of the Week: Deb GregoireVeronica Buness“Finding balance is critical, because there's no point in doing this if it starts to feel like 'work.'”

Introducing ourKindred Artist of the Weekseries! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

Deb Gregoire. I'm the owner, designer and maker at Marteau Designs! This is really a side hustle as I also work full time.

What do you do?

I'm a metalsmith- marteau is French for hammer. I make jewelry. Mostly silver and gold, sometimes brass or copper. I sometimes set stones as well. My main focus is on earrings but I also make rings, bracelets, and necklaces. I'm experimenting with hairsticks and such and have some ideas about some housewares like coasters and cookie cutters. But that is all still in dream state.

Who/what inspires you?

I'm super inspired by the gorgeous mountains right outside our doors! I do a lot of mountain themed pieces that people really respond to. Other than the mountainscapes, I steer away from creating literal reproductions of nature. I prefer to translate the essence of a place or thing into a piece through texture, lines, mixing metals... I am fascinated right now with sandwiching metal with kelp fronds and other organic materials and running them through the rolling mill. It creates these amazing raw, elegant textures.

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

I really, really love using all of my tools! I use hammers, torches, files, and saws to shape and transform raw metal into something more elegant and interesting. Metalsmithing is pretty dirty work which feels really incongruous with the final product. It's such a transformation. I get nervous about clients seeing any work mid-process because it can just look like a mess. It's important to have faith that transformation is possible. I admit that I get a nice boost from the positive response of customers. It's really lovely, actually.

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

Find a dedicated space for your work with good natural light and adequate ventilation. Once you learn how to safely operate your equipment, be confident in using them and don't be afraid to experiment with new materials or techniques.

What’s next?

I'm attending a weekend retreat in April designed for creatives to provide tools for elevating their businesses. Because I work full time and want to have a full life with my family and friends playing in these beautiful mountains, I don't have more time currently to dedicate to Marteau Designs. I'm hoping this retreat with help me sort out some systems that will allow me to spend most of my limited time on the creative process and also develop a long term (read: slow) plan for expanding my reach. Finding balance is critical because there's no point in doing this if it starts to feel like "work".

Stop by the shop to see our selection of Deb's jewelry!

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/artist-of-the-week-crystal-worl2019-02-08T12:00:00-09:002019-02-18T16:02:05-09:00Kindred Artist of the Week: Crystal WorlVeronica Buness“I love storytelling! My work explores the relationships and bonds between Tlingit / Athabascan people, the land, and the animals.”

Introducing our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is Crystal Worl, talented artist, aerialist, and all around rad lady. You may know her from her incredible solo work, or as one half of the dream team behind Trickster Company.

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“I love storytelling! My work explores the relationships and bonds between Tlingit / Athabascan people, the land, and the animals.”

Introducing our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is Crystal Worl, talented artist, aerialist, and all around rad lady. You may know her from her incredible solo work, or as one half of the dream team behind Trickster Company.

Who are you?

I am Tlingit from Raven moiety, Sockeye Clan, from the Raven House. I am Deg Hit’an Athabascan from Fairbanks Alaska. I was raised between Fairbanks and Juneau.

What do you do?

I now live in Juneau where I co-own Trickster Company with my brother Rico, an innovative indigenous graphic design and art gift shop. I am a designer and painter. I am currently studying classical form line design in a part time apprenticeship.

Who/what inspires you?

Clan stories and Raven stories from home. I love storytelling! My work explores the relationships and bonds between Tlingit / Athabascan people, the land, and the animals. I also draw inspiration from participating in subsistence and cultural practices such as singing, dancing, and listening to our language speakers & artist philosophers.

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

The beginning and the end. When I begin a painting, it is fast, fluid, and messy. I am splattering paint all over. After designing and refining, I apply the design. Once the design is transferred onto the paper it is a magic revealing. By the end all of the details are outlined with a silver pencil. I love that silver pencil! I sign almost all of my paintings with it. The entire process is my favorite.

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

Never stop reaching for quality and be professional no matter what! Put in the extra time it takes to make your work the best you can. Be on time. Be prepared. Make mistakes and realize they are an important part of your process and growth as an artist. Never stop learning.

What’s next?

This year I have many projects on the horizon, such as designing new outfits, illustrating a children’s book, designing for a play stage set & outfits, exhibiting my paintings, and continuing my part time apprenticeship focused on classical form line design.

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“I love to get those in-between, real-life moments of nervous laughs and excited dance moves!”

Introducing our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

This week’s featured artist is Kaley McGoey, a magnificent and mystical momma who takes absolutely magical portraits. Kaley will be joining us for February First Friday, creating custom natal charts!

Who are you?

I am a fierce lover. Loyal to those who invest in me and themselves with passion and power. Momma wolf to twin girls Salem and Penelope and two pure white kitties Rhiannon and Ceridwen! Business owner over at Fera Photography. A full believer in manifestation, the power of the cosmos, self growth and nature worship. I dabble in in the mystical with a love for crystal healing and herbal concoctions!

What do you do?

I photograph the most beautiful human beings and I am floored with the beauty of every single person I meet! I take them on adventures and help them see their beauty through my lens! I love to get those in-between, real-life moments of nervous laughs and excited dance moves!

Who/what inspires you?

I am SO inspired by the many talented photographers in Juneau ALONE! They all have their own beautiful styles and talents for different types of work! I am inspired by all of my fellow #Momprenuers! Raising children and running a business is INSANE and all of the women who make it happen and show up for their families keep me inspired!

What’s your favorite moment in the process?

My favorite moments of my process are the moment my clients relax with me and start to feel themselves! It’s so fun to watch them soften and embody the confidence that I strive to bring out! I also REALLY LOVE the feedback from my clients after a shoot it makes my heart glow to know they are in love with their images!

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?

I think my trick for capturing the best pictures I get is being myself! Making dad jokes, acting a fool, complimenting the crap out of my clients gorgeousness! It does wonders to just be yourself and connect with your clients, read their responses, try to meet them where they are at and encourage them out of their shell!

What’s next?

Oh my gosh! I have such a big dreams for my future in photography and outside of it! I want to start partnering with sexy apartment rentals that I could do indoor Boudoir in for more comfortable sessions for my clients! I also have a dream of opening a little mystic co-op! We will see how that dream unfolds over this next year!

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"Be kind to yourself! There’s no point in self-deprecating thought."

Introducing our Kindred Artist of the Week series! We are big fans of all the artists we work with and we are so excited to share their stories!

Our first featured artist is Juneau local MK MacNaughton, a teaching and exhibiting artist who has a magic touch for capturing both our landscapes and our neighbors.

Who are you?I’m an artist with a little studio called “Sketch” on the corner of Front and Main street, in downtown Juneau. I’ve always loved drawing and making things with my hands. My fondest memories from childhood are dreaming up little inventions and getting lost in sketches. As a working artist now, art is both an escape and a way to connect to other people.

What do you do?I work primarily in oils, painting landscapes and portraits. I usually create a body of work focused on a theme for a specific show. In addition to painting, I teach classes to kids and adults, and make things like hand painted shirts, earrings, and other products that sell in shops.

Who/what inspires you?Working with kids really helped me decide to become an artist. I opened Sketch 7 years ago, but before that I worked for 25 years in social services: domestic violence prevention, disability services, and advocacy for arts in education. I enjoyed integrating the arts into all of my work, and in the end, the kids and adults I worked with inspired me to make the leap into creating full time. After encouraging others of all ages and abilities to express themselves, I finally took my own advice.

What’s your favorite moment in the process?Well, I’ve discovered it’s always a little hard to start a new project. Even after 7 years of full time work as an artist, I find myself productively procrastinating by wandering around the studio cleaning, and then I realize “I’m nervous about this new idea” and I make myself buckle down. My favorite moment is shortly after that when I’m completely absorbed and immersed in the project. So my advice to others is make yourself get past that initial hesitation!

What’s a trick of your trade, or a piece of advice for other artists in your medium?Be kind to yourself! There’s no point in self-deprecating thought. It helps me to be goal driven; deadlines are great motivation. I also think it’s really important to regularly reassess what’s working and what isn’t in my business. Finding balance in creating and teaching, and growing as an artist are key to my continued practice. I find that Juneau is a wonderfully supportive arts community. I’ve learned a lot from other artists, and I’m really thankful for how much our community supports local artists.

What’s next?I have some new products coming out this spring… hopefully! I’m creating games from my artwork that I think will make great gifts for both locals and tourists. And I have two new bodies of work in mind. I’d like to push both my landscape and portrait painting in new directions. I have goals for exhibits at the end of the year. I’m also experimenting in kiln fired painted architectural glass and have a commission I’m working on this spring for a summer installation. Thanks to KP for carrying my cards, earrings and giclee prints! I welcome visitors at my studio anytime. Winter hours are noon-3 week days. Please stop by Sketch and peek around my magical little studio.

Kindred Post owner Christy Eriksen making a donation to SHI in recognition of its efforts to effect social change. Photo by Lyndsey Brollini, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute.

Kindred Post of Juneau today donated ten percent of its profits from its Social Justice Hustle collection to Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) in recognition of the institute’s work to forge social change.

In aletter, Kindred Post owner, artist and activist Christy NaMee Eriksen wrote that she chose SHI to receive its annual donation because the institute creates “positive change at every level, from baby raven reading roots to the fruit-bearing branches of public policy.”

“Art programs like skin sewing workshops, formline classes, art purchases and youth academies have empowered Alaska Native artists across generations and have educated and enriched our community. I would bet a jar of salmon that there isn't a person in our town who hasn't been impacted by the work you've done,” Eriksen wrote.

“You make this world, our world, better.”

SHI President Rosita Worl said she was very moved by the $550 gift and the sentiment conveyed.

“We work hard to raise funds for our programs through grants and donations, and so it’s very gratifying when a donor steps up and makes a gift such as this to simply recognize and honor our efforts,” Worl said. “I’m moved by Christy’s thoughtful act and her stated appreciation of SHI’s impact on the community as a whole.”

SHI advocates on numerous social justice issues and in recent years operated a Northwest Coast art program for inmates at Juneau’s Lemon Creek Correctional Center. The goals were to connect Alaska Native prisoners with their cultural identity and to provide a way for them to earn income upon their release. The program will continue pending funding.

The donation proceeds came from 2018 profits on Kindred Post’s Social Justice Hustle merchandise, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and pins.

About Sealaska Heritage Institute

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. SHI also conducts social scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.

About Kindred Post

Kindred Post is a business rooted in art, community and social justice and has four branches of work. As a post office, it connects people and acts as a neighborhood hub for social connection. As a gift shop, it supports more than 150 artists by purchasing their work, sharing their stories with customers, and mentoring emerging artists in wholesale/business practices. As a gathering space, it brings people together through a variety of art and social programming. As a citizen, it uses its rights and responsibilities to serve its community and respond to the world around it.

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/introducing-bering-sea-designs-by-carley-thayer2019-01-22T10:04:00-09:002019-01-22T10:10:06-09:00Introducing: Bering Sea Designs by Carley ThayerVeronica Buness
We are so delighted to welcome local artist, Carley Thayer (Aleut) and her sea otter fur jewelry to Kindred Post!

Downtown Juneau store and postal office Kindred Post donated 10 percent of its profits from its Social Justice Hustle collection to Sealaska Heritage Institute in recognition of the institute’s work to forge social change.

In a letter, Kindred Post owner, artist and activist Christy NaMee Eriksen wrote that she chose SHI to receive its annual donation because the institute creates “positive change at every level, from baby raven reading roots to the fruit-bearing branches of public policy.”

“Art programs like skin sewing workshops, formline classes, art purchases and youth academies have empowered Alaska Native artists across generations and have educated and enriched our community. I would bet a jar of salmon that there isn’t a person in our town who hasn’t been impacted by the work you’ve done,” Eriksen wrote.“You make this world, our world, better.”

SHI President Rosita Worl said she was very moved by the $550 gift and the sentiment conveyed.

“We work hard to raise funds for our programs through grants and donations, and so it’s very gratifying when a donor steps up and makes a gift such as this to simply recognize and honor our efforts,” Worl said. “I’m moved by Christy’s thoughtful act and her stated appreciation of SHI’s impact on the community as a whole.”

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/your-2018-social-justice-hustle-purchases-donated-to-sealaska-heritage-institute2019-01-18T16:25:00-09:002019-01-18T16:26:12-09:00Your 2018 Social Justice Hustle Purchases Donated to Sealaska Heritage InstituteChristy EriksenWe're committed to annually donating 10% of profits from our Social Justice Hustle collection to a social justice cause we believe in. Your support in 2018 enabled us to make a $550 donation to Sealaska Heritage Institute! Thank you!

We're committed to annually donating 10% of profits from our Social Justice Hustle collection to a social justice cause we believe in. We were honored today to write a $550 check to Sealaska Heritage Institute, a direct result of your support in 2018. Gunalchéesh, thank you!

We invite you to read our donation letter:

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Dear Dr. Worl,

It is my pleasure today to donate $550 to Sealaska Heritage Institute's art programs, representing 10% of sale profits from our store's Social Justice Hustle collection over the last year. We designed this collection to inspire and recognize the hard work it takes to make social change. We're committed to continuously donating 10% of profits to excellent examples of social justice in action, and your art programs are just that.

We are grateful to live on Tlingit Aaní; it is a privilege to be long-term guests on your land. At Kindred Post, we subscribe to the notion of interdependence; we belong to each other, and our oppressions and our liberations are bound to one another. As we collectively reckon with the traumas of our past, especially the forces of colonization that have sought to smother indigenous ways of life, we also celebrate the radical, healing work of today and tomorrows.

We look up to Sealaska Heritage Institute's unwavering latseen in the face of oppression, and its consistent efforts to advance the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures. You create positive change at every level, from baby raven reading roots to the fruit-bearing branches of public policy. Art programs like skin sewing workshops, formline classes, art purchases, and youth academies have empowered Alaska Native artists across generations and have educated and enriched our community. I would bet a jar of salmon that there isn't a person in our town who hasn't been impacted by the work you've done. You make this world, our world, better.

As a small business that promotes arts, community, and social justice, we are inspired by and deeply impacted by your everyday acts of social justice. We would be honored if you would receive this small gift, intended to shine a light on your efforts and lift them up.

Gunalchéesh to the Tlingit, especially the Áak'w Khwáan, for the privilege of co-existing and co-creating new futures on this land, and to the patrons of our store who make this possible.

In the words of Kaatyé David Kadashan (Tʼaḵdeintaan):Yá Lingit’aaní g̱eix’ woosh jín toolshát yeisú.In this world, we’re still holding each other’s hands.

After returning from songwriting camp in West Texas, Juneau musician Annie Bartholomew will host a women’s songwriting workshop at Kindred Post. Learn the nuts and bolts of songwriting to help craft your first song, or gain new techniques to bring to your songwriting practice. This class will discuss songwriting in an inclusive setting with the intention of creating a community of songwriters in Juneau. This course is for women who may have never written a song before, are at the beginning of their songwriting journey, or experienced artists seeking new inspiration. Nomusical experience necessary, bring only your voice and willingness to share.

After returning from songwriting camp in West Texas, Juneau musician Annie Bartholomew will host a women’s songwriting workshop at Kindred Post. Learn the nuts and bolts of songwriting to help craft your first song, or gain new techniques to bring to your songwriting practice. This class will discuss songwriting in an inclusive setting with the intention of creating a community of songwriters in Juneau. This course is for women who may have never written a song before, are at the beginning of their songwriting journey, or experienced artists seeking new inspiration. No musical experience necessary, bring only your voice and willingness to share.

About the Teaching Artist:

Annie Bartholomew is a guitarist and songwriter from Juneau, Alaska. Inspired by the great blues singers of the 1920s, her smokey voice and sassy arrangements walk the line of American folk tradition. Her latest songwriting project, Sisters of White Chapel, uses historical documents to share the lesser known histories of women during the Klondike Gold Rush.

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/kindred-post-organizes-largest-downtown-halloween-community-celebration-ever2018-10-15T11:32:00-08:002018-10-24T12:24:58-08:00Kindred Post organizes largest downtown Halloween community celebration everChristy EriksenMerchants in downtown Juneau for the fourth year will welcome trick-or-treaters on Halloween, and a record 71 businesses will participate.

Merchants in downtown Juneau for the fourth year will welcome trick-or-treaters on Halloween, and a record 71 businesses will participate.

The businesses will give away treats and a few will offer alternate or additional items: Shoe Fly will give away shoe laces or candy; Capital Copy will give away Play Doh; Sketch Studio will offer one-minute art activities; Aurora Projekt will give away stickers; and Kindred Post will give away spooky coloring postcards and candy, to name only a few.

Kindred Post owner, artist and activist Christy NaMee Eriksen first organized the event in 2014, and since then, the number of participating businesses and organizations has more than doubled. Eriksen conceived of the event as a way to bring the community together.

“I’m inspired by the way neighborhoods come together to celebrate Halloween, and I wondered why we didn’t do that in the downtown core,” Eriksen said. “For me it was never just about handing out treats, it was about inviting people into our neighborhood. We want to send the message that everyone is welcome here.”

The event also provides a fun, easy way for kids and families to enjoy Halloween, said Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt.“It’s a great way for the community to get together and enjoy the central business district,” Watt said. “Plus, I love seeing so many kids in their costumes.”

Downtown has become a more vibrant space for local residents in recent years, said Rosita Worl, president of Sealaska Heritage Institute, a participating organization.

“We applaud Christy of Kindred Post for initiating this event because it makes downtown a destination for locals. We want downtown Juneau to serve as a community center,” Worl said.

The event is scheduled from 2-6 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Participating businesses will have orange balloons and door signs reading “trick-or-treating here.”

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/kindred-post-one-of-five-companies-in-pacific-northwest-to-win-major-development-grant2018-09-10T09:24:00-08:002018-09-10T09:27:07-08:00Kindred Post one of five companies in Pacific Northwest to win major development grantChristy Eriksen

Big news!!

KINDRED POST ONE OF FIVE COMPANIES IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO WIN MAJOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTFunds will allow Kindred Post to invest in community art programming

A Colorado-based social impact organization has chosen Kindred Post in Juneau for a major business development grant, making it one of only five entities in the Pacific Northwest to receive the honor this year.

The $50,000 grant is part of the Alma Mater Platform (AMP) Accelerator Program, a new pilot project funded by Wend Ventures, which is an investment portfolio focused on driving transformation and positive change for people, communities and places.

The grant will allow Kindred Post owner, artist and activist Christy NaMee Eriksen to invest in the company’s community art programs. The programs, including a Tiny Post Office Concert series, workshops, readings, and letter writing parties, have been offered mostly free of charge, and the grant will be used to develop a sponsorship model to support and sustain accessibility; fund outreach efforts to publicize programs; and purchase chairs for performance events.

The grant also will allow Eriksen to attend bi-weekly seminars over three months at Alma Mater Tacoma, an artist-led community space in Washington State, to engage with other creative leaders and to hear speakers from fields that contribute to the development of the creative economy.

Eriksen called the award an amazing opportunity and the people behind AMP and Wend Ventures kindred spirits because their goal to promote community engagement through the arts dovetails so closely with her own.

“The opportunity to connect with and learn from others in the small but mighty field of socially-conscious and creative entrepreneurship is exciting,” Eriksen said. “The grant also will allow me to invest in my favorite branch of Kindred Post's business—community art programming— which capitalizes on my experience of creating and sharing together but has so far lacked the resources to grow.”

Wend Ventures supports new and innovative means of promoting and accelerating alternative business model development and community engagement through the arts, which are goals that especially resonate with Eriksen.

“I strive to use my work to lift up my voice and lift up my community. I believe that a community that nurtures artists nurtures everyone, and that art can bring out the best in people,” she said.

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/were-donating-100-of-our-socialjusticehustle-profits-this-week2018-07-02T11:07:00-08:002018-07-02T11:07:57-08:00We're donating 100% of our #SocialJusticeHustle profits this weekChristy Eriksen
Hi. 4th of July has got us feeling a way. More than our Independence, we think about our interdependence. We are deeply connected, our liberation is bound to one another. None of us are free until all of us are free. What’s happening at our border is a horrific, recurring theme - separating families of color is an institutionalized trauma our country has participated in for generations. None of it is okay.

THIS WEEK WE ARE DONATING 100% OF OUR #SOCIALJUSTICEHUSTLE PROFITS. Tshirts, Hoodies, Pins. We collect 10% all year long (this year being donated to Sealaska Heritage Institute’s art programs), but from now until Sunday the other 90% is going to a medley of organizations that are doing some heavy hustling in the movement right now:

+ Fronterizo Fianza Fund a community bond (fianza) fund run by the Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee, based in El Paso-Ciudad Juárez to get immigrants out of detainment and closer to family reunification. https://www.fianzafund.org/home.html

+ La Union del Pueblo Entero - founded by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, a community union that works in the Rio Grande Valley from the grassroots up. https://lupenet.org/

+ The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights - attorneys and social workers who advocate for unaccompanied immigrant children and work to change immigration policy and practice. https://www.theyoungcenter.org/

It’s not much, but we want to lift up and support the collective work that activists across the country are engaged in. Do not despair. Where there is oppression and darkness, there is intergenerational resilience, intergenerational dreaming, intergenerational joy. No one is going anywhere. We’re in this together.

This speech was given in April 2018 by Christy NaMee Eriksen (Owner of Kindred Post) after receiving a Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women's Lobby. Christy calls it "a long love poem for fighters."

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This speech was given in April 2018 by Christy NaMee Eriksen (Owner of Kindred Post) after receiving a Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women's Lobby.

Good afternoon. I'd like to first acknowledge my Tlingit cousins, the rightful and original owners of this land, and especially the Áak'w Khwáan, L'eeneidí and the Wooshkeetaan clans. Gunalchéesh, thank you, for the privilege of speaking and living on your land, and for your ancestors who have guided me and so many Alaskans to where we are today. Kamsahamnida, thank you to my own Korean and American ancestors for the poems, small and large, they wrote in advance of my arrival and the dreams they had for me that are still unfolding. It's an honor to stand here on the shoulders of giants. Thank you to the Alaska Women's Lobby for lifting up all our women, families and children through your advocacy and your leadership, and to Carla Timpone, who sounds like a fighter, a truth-teller, and someone who I understand had a wicked sense of humor - I never met Carla but I value the opportunity to learn about her and follow her through this experience. Thank you to my friends, my worse come to worst my peoples come first, my community, my family, my son. You are the reasons I'm living my best life.

This is an incredible honor for me, as in incredulous, as in I questioned its credibility for choosing me, and I questioned my credibility for receiving it. Maybe like some others in the room, I have high expectations of the world and high expectations of myself, and we both fall short often. Have you ever gotten so used to resisting, you start resisting you? Perhaps you can understand why I struggled to write an acceptance speech, it is not something a woman like me experiences often. I fought myself for awhile, and I ate half the kitchen writing bad rough drafts, but I decided that today in exchange for this award I'd like to offer you this: a self-acceptance speech for activists - in my experience the most difficult award to receive.

To give a self-acceptance speech we as activists would have to acknowledge our soft work, our shortcomings, our rest. We'd have to also list the lowlights, the times we questioned our own dedication, the times we were uninspired. When we got lazy, when we got depressed, when we raised our voices louder than was effective.

Are we here for that, too? Are we here to accept the flawed parts of our activism?

When knowing everything we knew about engaging, we left.When knowing everything we knew about organizing, we were a mess.When knowing everything we knew about building, we collapsed.

I've come to my activist jesus so many times, I meditate the most when I'm angry. My prayers are often mistaken for to-do lists and, as such, many are left unanswered.

Any dreamer is also cursed with doubt, because more of our visions are unrealized than not.

Likewise, any self-reflecting genius is also the editor from hell. I myself look up to Ernestine Hayes, who suggests "killing your darlings" as a revision practice, which is a fantastic skill in writing but is a vicious tool to take to our memories.I've looked back and killed so many darlings - a criticism I should have kept to myself, a frustration I should have not brought to a meeting, a morning I slept in instead of testifying - and the ghosts of them follow me around until I make the choice to love them anyway,

to accept them anyway.

Once, not too long ago, a group of white people were antagonizing and making racial comments to my friends and I on Franklin Street. They were drunk and they didn't like the way I looked at them, because I wouldn't say my name, because I wouldn't say where I was from, and because I wouldn't smile. I've smiled a hundred times in situations like this before - from bars to board rooms. But *that* night, I *wanted* to be an award-winning activist, I wanted to accept and be accepted, I wanted to be valuable.

I wouldn't give them my name, I wouldn't give them my country, I wouldn't change my face into the face they wanted, and as a consequence, they physically attacked us. Afterwards, assessing injuries, assessing the bad endings we'd only lucked out in avoiding, I was so

sorry. What had I done, what had I allowed to happen because I had too much pride, which is still not as much pride as others. I wondered- What kind of danger do I put us in when I simply refuse to know my place in this world?

I carried this darling with me for days and this is always the worst part of an attack, the part where you destroy yourself from the inside out. My friend Kolene James, who is a queen and a healer, watched me break and then she hugged me for 3-4 generations. When she let go she said,

You come from a long line of gentle people.Your ancestors gave you voice. They gave you your beauty, your talent, your skills.

She shook her head and she said: There’s no room for regrets here.

What raw and limitless version of activism is ignited when we who have been taught to expect and accept our own destruction, say instead: no. When our greatest form of resistance is existence.

I was asked to speak about the role activsim plays in my life, and I hope you're not disappointed to learn, this is most of it, just me, being here. Perhaps it's true for you, too, you who may not be the color of most hollywood heroes, who shudder at the sight of police, who must convince policymakers you own your own body, maybe your religions don't get paid holidays, maybe doors don't open for you, maybe your love comes with repercussions. Still, when everything asks you to disappear, here you are.

I wrote a poem in 2010 for Oscar Grant, a young black man who was shot by a police officer in the back while lying face down on New Year's Day. I wanted to write about the haunting way we as brown mothers are asked to raise our children. They are born into riots, really. Their expressions of beauty make them dangerous to those who feast on ugly. In the poem I write, "a brown mother's love is her greatest protest." Choosing to appear, choosing to defiantly exist, holding our names, our homelands, our own faces and calling them precious. Taking in the view with our children and saying, this world, this shared world, is also yours - this is our picket line.

But we who have our eyes on the prize, we too get weary - waving a sign we never wanted to hold, chanting an anthem that reminds us we are desperate, singing songs that make clear we have so much to lose. We who plead for freedom, for love - how strong is our activism when we cannot also accept her - she who is tired and broken. She whose grief cannot possibly go on.

I'm humbled today to accept this award on behalf of that darling in me, the one I so often want to cut out, erase, change - the one who is the most activist in me, because she tells the truth.

If you too are honest (as you surely are) and if you too go on and on because you are steeped in the fight to be safe, to be valuable, to be beautiful (as surely you do), then I trust you too come from a long line of gentle people, that you too are brilliant and weary and proud. Please, accept all of it. Your love, too, is the greatest protest.

The darling in me honors the darling in you.May we be each other's keepers.

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/your-social-justice-hustle-purchases-donated-to-juneau-housing-first2017-12-29T00:00:00-09:002018-03-26T16:19:37-08:00Your Social Justice Hustle purchases donated to Juneau Housing FirstChristy EriksenAt the end of 2016, we committed to donating 10% of profits from our Social Justice Hustle collection to a social justice cause we believe in. Your support has allowed us to collect over $500 and today we are proud to donate it to Juneau Housing First! Thank you!!

At the end of 2016, we committed to donating 10% of profits from our Social Justice Hustle collection to a social justice cause we believe in. Your support has allowed us to collect over $500 and today we are proud to donate it to Juneau Housing First! Thank you!!

Here is the letter that accompanied our donation:

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Dear Ms. Davis,

It is my pleasure today to write this check for $517.44 in donation to the Juneau Housing First project, representing 10% of sale profits from our store's Social Justice Hustle collection over the last year. We designed this collection to inspire and recognize the hard work it takes to make social change. We're committed to continuously donating 10% of profits to a social justice cause we care about, and the Juneau Housing First project is a prime example of social justice in action. This is our first donation of the program.

We're proud to be a part of the Juneau community, including the downtown business community that lives alongside a diversity of neighbors. Many of our neighbors are in vulnerable and unsafe conditions - many experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse. We offer this donation in respect to the historical ways systems have failed some of our neighbors as well as in commitment towards a vision for community-based solutions. The Juneau Housing First project, offering safe and secure housing for some of our city's most vulnerable adults, is a valuable initiative. We see it as a compassionate, research-driven opportunity for Juneau to make a meaningful difference not just in individuals' lives, but in our community's approach to homelessness as a whole.

At Kindred Post, we subscribe to the notion of a collective well-being. We belong to each other; our liberation is bound to one another. As we lend support to some communities, we strengthen the whole.

We know our donation is small, but for a small business it represents something valuable. We hope it might also inspire other Juneau businesses, organizations, or individuals to give what they can to this project as well.

We are grateful to the Áak'w Khwáan, L'eeneidí and the Wooshkeetaan clans for the privilege of living and working on this land, and especially grateful to the patrons of our store that make this possible.

Meet Eva Carrillo: Scissor superstar, social dragonfly, and a devoted, loving, radical mother. We asked Eva to shop around for what a cutting edge mama like herself might enjoy this season. Everything she grabbed was something she could share with her kids. They're always with her, she said, so she always has them in mind. See what she picked below!

Q: What do you do by day, what do you by night? A: By day I'm a barber and after 4 o'clock I'm a full time mom slash basketball player. :DQ: What's a recent mom moment you had? Maybe a precious one or a lesson you learned? Oooh I've had a lot lately. This morning I had an argument with my three year old about the liquid leaking out of his pull up. He was trying to convince me that it was water because he had drank water the night before. But it was. not. water.

Q: What's one of your guilty pleasures? A: Chocolate. But I always end up sharing. I don't hide any of it, I'm not an "I'm-in-the-closet-eating-a-snickers-bar" mom; my kids are always eating sweets with me because I'm eating sweets. I'll always share as much as I can with them. I try to teach them to share, too.

"If I got these, they would be my fourth pair [from this artist]. I share them with my daughter, Nixie. We both love them. They're hip. They make us both cool."

Pineapple studs by Kris Nations, $35

I run around so busy all the time so if someone got this for me I'd think it was a really thoughtful gift because I could just write one line a day and be done! I could do it with my kids and I could do five years of memories. Plus it just looks cool; you can't go wrong with turquoise and gold!

One Line a Day journal, $16.95

I just like chocolate and I always share with my kids because I know they like chocolate too. And this is GOOD chocolate.

Compartes Chocolate Bar in The Drive In, $9.95

"I always buy these here, too, because I like to have them as little gifts for the kids - at the barber shop or whoever, wherever. The kids always see my tattoos and wonder about them. I try to normalize tattoos."

"I like that it's locally made here in Southeast and it just smells really good. I feel like I always need to clean my kids. Could be decorative or could be functional."

Great Alaska Soap Company, $8

"I saw that they have these at my son's school! It's just beautiful. It's aesthetically pleasing and the fact that it was designed with kids in mind means I can use it, the kids can use it, and it looks great."

Q: What do you like about snail mail? A: Holding something physical that someone has taken the time to create for you, and paid someone else money to deliver to you. It requires a lot more thought than a text message or an email. Q: What kind of things do you write about in your letters? A: I usually write about the place that I live because I'm pen pals with people who are from another part of the country, or another country entirely so I want to show them what it's like in my part of the world. Which is why I love to include photos and trinkets and things like that.

Q: What's one change you experienced this year in your life? A: I got comfortable in Juneau again. I was kind of wandering and I got myself settled and comfortable in part of the community. I'm sticking around; I'm happy!

"I thought I knew how to make cool mail. But this is full of endless ideas and I'm really getting back into the etiquette of sending mail. It talks about some of the traditions, bringing back the thank you note, the love letter, the sympathy note, and even if you're not so comfortable sharing your feelings in writing and just like sharing pretty mail, they give you templates for how to share those sentiments. And how to make your own paper! Which is pretty cool."

Snail Mail, $19.95

"Because somewhere in the world there is a pin to show what you like and we have found the one for the snail mailers. And it's hand stamped! Bringing the analog of writing a letter onto the pin that you wear."

Snail Mail Fan Club pin, $4

"Pretty nifty because A) it is a ruler, in case you're meticulous about your crafting, and B) it'll open all your wonderful letters that people will write back to you after you've written them!"

"I'm a big fan of the fountain pen. It's the funnest kind of pen to write with! And these are a really great beginner pen because they're not the dip kind; they're really easy to use. A really good price for a quality pen and we've got all the refills at KP to last you forever."

Fountain Pen, $27

"I will always vote for the instant camera. It's a really great addition to your mail writing arsenal because adding an instant photo is another one-of-a-kind way to share a moment, just like that handwritten letter."

"Stamps make a great gift because they're literally little tiny works of art that cost money. So they are always valuable, always appreciated."

Wonder Woman stamps, sheet of 20, $9.80

"Out of our various letter writing kits at Kindred Post, this one is my favorite. It's got your note card and your envelope, matching but not the same. Real high quatliy, almost too fancy to mail. The materials you're using just add another layer of love to your letter."

Meet Mk MacNaughton: a spark of creativity, generosity, and play! Check out her suggestions for the best gifts for artists this season.

Q: What do you do by day and what do you do by night/weekend? A: By day I draw and paint. This year I had the goal of running 1000 miles and reading 50 books and I'm almost there! A week and a half to go. My goal is to spend less time on screens and more time reading.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?A: I run early in the morning, every morning! I am a cleat connoisseur and I have different specialized footgear for thin black ice, thick black snow, you name it. I ran 4 miles this morning at Salmon Creek with my cleats on rubber boots.And I Love having a break with my kids--really appreciate that now that they're getting older. I structure my day around family time.

Q: What do you gather around? A: Everything I do is centered around art, family, and friends. I'm lucky that my passion intersects with my job and I'm grateful to have found a balance where it involves the people I love.

"It is much easier to take notes at an angle! To do lists become entertaining and visually pleasing, even if you don't finish... (self-assigned tasks). Without the usual lines, I felt free! You are tricked into being organized."

Grids and Guides Notebook, $16.95

"I love all of these candles! Perfect for home or for studio. I buy a bunch as gifts! Fights the mildew of the rainy season and brings holiday cheer and light. Helps people know the studio is open when I put a candle in the window. They burn safely in their jars so you don't have to hover over it and worry about flames. We didn't do a Christmas tree this year since we'll be traveling (to Spain!) over the holidays so we're a little low on decorations, but somehow just having a lit candle is a quick way to look festive."

Orange Cardamom Soy Candles, $12-20

"Adorable. Practical. Flash the bones! Fun surprise. I have a small wallet that doesn't have room for coins so this is a great supplement. Well-admired everywhere I go!"

"Designed to show up against your tree (not a lot of greens). Lightweight so it doesn't drag down the tree branches. All local scenes by a local artist and locally printed! You are supporting three local businesses (artist, printer, KP) by buying them here! Trifecta of local support."

Ornaments by MK MacNaughton, $19.95

"THIS is beautifully designed. I have many art pencils that don't fit standard sharpeners so it's actually incredibly useful and delightful. As a special knife, I like to give it to art students to carefully use for their sharpening.The art of sharpening! And CUTE!"

Meet Annie Bartholomew, artist, art lover, and basically every local artist's biggest fan. Annie scoped out the local goods at KP to give us her favorite picks for holiday gifts. Check em out!

Meet Annie Bartholomew!

Q: What do you do by day and what do you do by night? By day, I'm an arts and culture reporter / radio host at KXLL. By night, i'm a guitarist and secret crafter, or compulsive crafter. It's the best way to procrastinate. Q: What are you working on currently?A: Embroidering a children's jean jacket; I just learned the satin stitch at the KP workshop! And trying to learn a new style of guitar playing - piedmont blues.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring artists?A: There's a lot of disappointment in this industry, but keep going. Don't stop creating. And don't compare yourself to others, because we're all on our journey. And don't be afraid to work for free, because sometimes time is more valuable than money and relationships are more valuable than money - and a lot of times it pays off later. It all helps and we all have to lean on each other if we're gonna make great art.

"This book was illustrated by David Lang tattoo artist/High Tide owner. You can see the tattoo influence on the subtle formline. (It's secretly not just a children's book--equal enjoyment for young and old!)"

10 Sitka Herring, illustrated by local artist Dave Lang, $10

"These are so gorgeous and delicate - two words you would not normally associate with sealskin. Fur can be intimidating but it's also luxurious! In earring form it can be a subtle luxury."

Beaded seal skin earrings by Autumn Shotridge, $45

"When you're an artist, you're leaning on everyone else and constantly bartering and trading and giving your time away. KP is one of the places that supports our vibrant community. Collecting pins is gonna be the new Pokemon for adults--gotta get em all!"

"If you really love someone, you get them one of Ricky's bags because they are just perfect and gorgeous and special. When you walk into a party, people will know you're important. :) Perfect for holding cell phone, credit card, secrets and snacks! Ingenious use of indigenous design."

Chilkat bag by Ricky Tagaban, $400

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/gift-guide-for-the-modern-man-by-rorie2016-12-15T14:15:00-09:002016-12-15T14:15:36-09:00Gift Guide for the Modern Man by RorieChristy Eriksen

Meet Rorie Watt, a hardworking and handsome hell of a dude. We asked Rorie for his advice on what a modern man might like this holiday season; here's his picks!

Meet Rorie Watt!

Q: What do you by day and what do you do by night? A: By day I juggle flaming balls and all day long people throw me more flaming balls and I try to choose the ones that I'm gonna continue to juggle and the ones that I'm gonna let just fly by. By night, I'm trying to perfect my skills at chess by continuously losing to the computer. I'm apparently making no progress.

Q: What is a piece of advice someone gave to you this year?A: Someone this year told me that when people fight me I fight back harder. It made me feel like they were right. It made me realize that reflexively arguing is not a good trait so now I wonder if sometimes maybe i'm wrong.

Q: What is something you're looking forward to in 2017?A: A boat i just bought, it's a little rowboat/sailboat. I'm super excited. It's incredibly well engineered and manufactured. I'm most excited about how easy it is to take a part and move and how quickly it goes from being a rowboat to a sailboat and how good it is at both things.

"Because I really do love this place and I'm an emotional person and it's a way of showing that."

"I have a secret fetish for chewy candies, particularly orange (which is one of my favorite flavors). The gummy bear is a point of departure for all good things. These tangerine gumdrops will probably not last the afternoon."

Blackberry + Tangerine Gumdrops, $7.95-$12

"Because we should be coloring more. We should be drawing and making art and doodling more. It calms the mind."

"Handcrafted ties are cool. Flowers are cool. Ties are cool.I spent 50 years of my life not wearing ties and now I wear a tie every day and I'm comfortable in them. And now I want to have nice ties. Someone told me today I dress in a way that looks professional and comfortable - and I was wearing a KP tie!"

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https://www.kindredpost.com/blogs/journal/gift-guide-for-book-lovers-by-stephanie2016-12-12T17:08:00-09:002016-12-12T17:08:17-09:00Gift Guide for Book Lovers by StephanieCalvin Pixel

Meet Stephanie, an avid reader and beautiful book instagrammer @thebookishbeaver. Here's her picks for book lovers this season!

Q: What do you do by day and what do you do by night? A: By day, I work at the Trading Post; byy night I stay up all night reading. I'm also an aunt, so I spend a lot of weekends with my niece and nephew running around the house. Q: What are you currently reading? A: I'm about to start "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover; it's supposed to be super good. I'm also reading "Heartless" by Marissa Meyer. It's a YA novel and a super fun story.

Q: What do you never leave home without? A: Giant earrings, a book, and a carved beaver (Deisheetan) bracelet my parents had made for me; I have matching ones with my sisters.

"It looks like a really pretty floating book. It looks cool, it's cute, and it'd be great lighting for reading books. I'd have it on all the time."

"I picked a couple books that I like. I've read this one. I love Ishmael and I think he has a lot to contribute to our community. I feel like he's got it going on and he's a beautiful writer."

Courtesans of Flounder Hill by Ishmael Hope, $20

"I love the idea of the book. I feel like it's really cool to see this book on women being amazing mothers and Christy NaMee Eriksen is in it and that's cool too. I'm looking forward to reading it. It's a gorgeous cover!"

Meet Dea Koryczan Huff: an outdoors-loving woman who is always literally moving up in the world. Almost everything in this guide are things she herself brings on backpacking or backcountry ski trips. Here's her picks for explorers!

Meet Dea Koryczan Huff! Q: What do you by day, what do you by night/weekend? A: By day I work at the State of Alaska as an Air Quality Engineer. By night/weekend, currently: Skiing. And I also work out at the Rock Dump, climbing.

Q: What do you love about playing outdoors? A: The mountains. Going up. I'm rarely not seen going up, in any chance, in any condition, I really like the view. Just getting up and away.

Q: What's your fave place to explore in this region? A: In the winter, the backcountry outside of Eaglecrest. It can be easy access but awesome powder terrain that isn't skied out. In the summer: Juneau Ridge to Salmon Ridge over to Observation Peak, over to Lemon Glacier. Or Blackerby Ridge to Lemon Glacier area. I just like seeing the icefield. It's amazing to run in a pair of running shoes and get up and see that area.

Q: How do you feel at the view? A: You just feel amazed that you live here. You're like, seriously? I just ran up here in two hours and these are things people dream about seeing in their lifetime, and I just got to do it on a Saturday.

"It's insulated, lightweight, and I have brought hot liquid in it and it's stayed hot for 24 hours. I took it in the Yukon where it's -18 and all your water can freeze, so it was nice to have this while camping."

"I bring one of these to write on the trip. I have a different one that I write trip stats on, but when you're out on cabin trips it's great to take time to journal, especially in foul weather it's good to have something to do in the tent or cabin. I use this one to write about feelings or life or stories on the trip."

Moleskine journal, $13.95

"For avalanche country you need a pencil for your avalanche book in order to track snow stability and snow conditions. You need a pencil because your pen will freeze. I always have this one with me in my bag."

Delfonics Wood Mechanical Pencil in green, $10

"This is big for climbing. You need a fold out blade for cutting the rope in case something were to happen. For that you don't need a multi-tool, you need a knife with a big blade that can cut through the rope in a second. It's a safety knife that I keep right on myself when I'm climbing. I have this one!"

"When you come home and you dry yourself out, everything is wet and stinks. So I light a candle to make everything smell good. This one - sweet grapefruit - isn't one of the earthy-smelling ones, this one is purely to make it smell good. Light and sweet, not any overpowering flowery stuff."

Meet Melissa Garcia Johnson: a lovely lady, a woman of great taste, and a tender-hearted BFF. Here's her picks for sisters and sister friends this season!

Meet Melissa Garcia Johnson!

Q: What keeps you busy? A: Spending time with the people that I love in the places that I love them in. Q: What's one wish you have this coming year for yourself and one for your community?A: For myself, to keep on growing and caring well for myself. For my community, I wish: renewed energy, forward motion, and space for healing.

Q: What's your current jam? A: "We the People" by A Tribe Called Quest

"This is a staple gift in our friend circle because it makes your house smell amazing and it's super affordable."

We're thrilled that the fine folks at State x State would ask us to compile a list of Alaskan makers and designers for one of their gift guide collections. It was hard to choose! But we narrowed it down to some favorites. Head on over to their blog to see our picks!